Wednesday, August 28, 2013

NUDC 2013: Binus, UI Battle at the Top from R3 to R6

Favorites Universitas Bina Nusantara (Invi Atmanegara & Jaran Walia) and Universitas Indonesia (Egalita Irfan & Roderick Sibarani) have faced off 4 times in the top room since the third preliminary round of the 2013 National University Debating Championship. They are likely to meet each other again this morning in R7 - the last debate before the break.

The two teams have only lost to each other so far. The losing side among them in 3 battles have always claimed the 2nd rank. Reigning champs Binus bested UI in R3 and R4 while the latter turned it around in R5. They hit each other again in R6 but it was a silent round, which will also be the case for R7. Binus won the Greater Jakarta regionals in May after beating UI in the final but a slightly different UI team defeated the same Binus pair in the final of Atma Jaya IV a week before that selection.

NUDC 2013 have run smoothly so far despite a high number of judges who had to start as trainees due to their low test scores. A few top rooms in R4-6 finally got three-member panels after adjudicator promotions although many lower rooms still only could get one qualified judge. Debates have been relatively punctual. Motions have been nice and clear. However, except the R4 debate on boycotting the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia, current world and domestic topics have not come up yet. Conflict, political, IR, Indonesian and trade issues may emerge in later rounds.